AgdaPkt 2015-03-23 Closed and Joint SA PFA

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9.A. - Page 6 Partnership Redwood City Although the development related community benefits above (fees, onsite community improvements and community funds) are a large part of the Partnership Redwood City Program, Partnership Redwood City can be much larger and include the overall community. For example, the program could conduct outreach to Redwood City's growing business community, for philanthropic contributions to the various community funds or local non- profits. The City could also meet with local non-profits and community organizations and determine the need for volunteer hours. Numerous businesses within Redwood City have expressed an interest in having their employees volunteer within the local community, and Partnership Redwood City could help facilitate this. Planning Commission Recommendation On February 3, 2015, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposed framework. Approximately nine members of the public spoke on issues related to affordable housing, local jobs, supporting educational programs, arts programs, growth and water use, and mobility issues. Generally there was support for the framework, though there were concerns about how the various issues would be ranked in relation to each other. Staff and the Commission discussed the possibilities and limitations of impact fees and how the community fund would relate. The Commission supported the framework with the following comments: • Creating a measurement and reporting system for any future fee or program to assess effectiveness; • Ensuring that job programs address not just construction jobs but high-tech jobs; • Finding a mechanism to hire locally as an important priority; • Identifying that RCEF and Project Read are worthy recipients for a community fund; • Leveraging partnerships with non-profits; and • On an ongoing basis, widen community participation in priority-setting beyond the people who have attended workshops to date. Tracking Community Benefits As noted above, the Planning Commission stressed that it will be critically important that community benefits be tracked and measured. Staff concurs that will be key, and has been developing a system to ensure this will take place. Staff intends to continue to develop this system, and bring it back to the Council for consideration during the Partnership Redwood City adoption process. General Plan and Zoning Compliance Many General Plan goals and policies relate to the provision of community benefits. Staff has identified the following policies that highlight specific priorities: Policy H-2.5 Consider various avenues to ensure the provision or construction of affordable housing and other community benefits. Policy BC-1.2 Maintain development fee programs to accumulate funds for the acquisition and improvement of parks and public/community places and facilities.